Method of and machine for manufacturing expansion joints



7 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. BROWN Filed July 7. 1927 METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING EXPANSION JOINTS Oct. 13, 1931.

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METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING EXPANSION JOINTS Filed'July 7. 1927 7 sheets-sheet 2 Oct. 13, 1931. A. E. BRowN 1,825,935

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING EXPANSION JOINTS Filed Julir 7, 1927 7 sheets-sheet s f y v I o 135 Www/f I @Qmfdc' MM l Oct. 13, 1931. A. E. BRowN METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING EXPANSION JOINTS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 7, 1927 Oct. 13, 1931.

A. E. BRowN METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING XPANSION JOINTS Filed July '7. 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oa. 13,1931. A, E, BROWN 1,826,985

METHOD 0F AND MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING EXPANSION JOINTS Filed July 7, 1927 7 sheets-sheet e y) Q( g1) lll/I QB l Il A. E. BROWN METHOD OF' A ND MACHINE FOR' MANUFACTURING EXPANSION JOINTS Filed Jul;r Y. 1927 "7 sheets-sheet 7 Patented Oct. `13, 19,31

y UNETED STATES' LoFi-*ics ARTHUR BROWN, F EIGIN, ILLJINOIS, SSIGNOR W. lR. MEADOWS, ENCORPORATED, OF ELGIN,' ILLINOIS, A CORPORATEON OF ILLINOIS METHOD OF MACHINEFOR MANUFACTURING- EXPANSION JOINTS lapplication tiled July t?, 192'?. Serial No.f2103,958.

45to a method and machine for working an adherent-plastic mass into sheet form and thereafter cutting said sheets into strips. f v ll will hereinafter describe my invention in connection with the manufacture of what are of the rolls and urging this between the said rolls, the mass will not form properly, since the plastic is of such a character that it does not readily take between the rolls.

My improved method contemplates the initial forming of a thick sheet-like mass of material which may be moved down between the forming rolls in an already compact and closely knit sheet form so that no holes will be present 'in the finished relatively thin `sheet formed therefrom; Moreover, by so arranging the material prior to its introduction belo known as expansion joints,tha't is, flat ribbon-like strips ofvmaterial composed of asphalt and fibrous material. 'These strips are adapted to loe/placed between adjacent sections of concrete highways, or of other structures composed of c ncrete, and are thus placed in order to pro ide for'the expansion and contraction of theconcrete sections due to changes in temperature occasioned byI weather conditions, hence the term expan-' sion joints.7

l have found it exceedingly difficult to reduce the manufacture of such expansion `joints to an economical basis. rlhe sticky Y plastic naturey of the mix from whichsuch joints are made renders it extremely diflicult to work a mass of the raw mixed material into sheet form; Of course this may bedoneby hand in forms, but such procedure is very expensive and -with the present day cost of material and labor is almost Vprohibitive to put into practice. On the other hand, attempts have been made in the past to feed the plastic material between forming rolls to thereby form sheets of material which may be left lto solidify and be thereafter cut into strips of requisite width. 'It is a 'well known fact however, that products of this character must be very carefully fed 4between each roll or holes and discrepancies in thickness of the 4o sheet so produced will result which, of course,

renders such a sheet'unworkable for the' production of strips.y f I have found that the required careslows up the product'ien and the' necessityof employing additional men has made this process exceedingly expensive, and

. therefore, impractical. l

If on the other hand, no'attempt is made to -carefully feed the material between the rolls, that is, if itis attempted to form sheets by -V *placing a large amountof material in front tween the rolls, l' am enabled to insure an adequate supply to prevent interruption in the sheet without, however, causing the mass of my machine is continuously operated,

Whereas another portion is intermittent in action.

Again, my method contemplates a substantially automatic operation in the production of plastic products and of expansion joints particularly, and to this end I provide, in novel combination in my system, a mixing zone in which the asphalt and fibrous matevin front of the rolls to be so bulky as to pre-v rials are mixed. The asphalt is fed into the mixing chamber vfrom a heating container i'thro'ingh' an yautomatically-regula ted 'valve whichis so fed that the correct proportions ofasphalt and fiber are automatically predetermined, that is, the valve automatically starts and cuts oil to feed a predetermined amount of asphalt into the mixer. Such a valve forms no part of my invention and I will] not. therefore, escribe this device in detai Likewise the Abrous material is automatically weighed out and Adumped into the mixer whena predetermined amount has been deposited on a scale.

After the mixture has been properly and thoroughly incorporated, the same is dumped into a kneading or initial workingzone where the material is pressed or kneaded, which is the initial istep in my process.v Thereafter a kneaded or worked portion is intermittently fed onto a conveyor and conveyed to forming rolls from which a continuous sheet is produced. The conveyor is so adjusted, as l will hereinafter more fully point out, that the intermittently fed material is supplied to the forming rolls in such manner that a continuous sheet issues from said rolls, irrespective of the intermittent feed from the said pressing member.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, all of which it may be mentioned are more or less diagrammatically illustrative of my invention, although the machine illustrated is a practical commercial machine. ln other words, those features which may be readily supplied by any skilled mechanic have been omitted in order that the process and machine may be clearly illustrated.

ln the drawings z Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a machine embodying my invention taken from the right-hand side thereof, assuming that the material moves forwardly from left to right of the sheet;

Figure`2 is aside elevational view of the presser and kneading mechanism of my invention` this figure being taken from the opposite side of the machine from Figure 1; that is to say, the material in Figure 2 is fed from the right to the left as is the case in all of the other figures of the drawings;

Figure 3 is an end, elevational, sectional view of the presser 'mechanism and taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side, elevational view of that portion'of the machine immediately forward of the portion shown in Figure 2 and illustrates the compensating conveyor portion of the machine;

Figure 4A is an elevational cross-sectional view taken on the line 4ck-4a of Figure 4;

Figure 5 is an elevational, sectional view of the forward end of the mechanism shown in Figure 4 but arranged vertically of the sheet so as to show the actuating means for i raising and lowering said conveyor and also showing the said conveyor in its two extreme positions; l

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of that portion of the machine immediately next forward of the portion shown in Figure 4;

Figure 7 is an elevational sectional view showing the extreme forward portion of the conveying system and particularlythe Cutneaaesa ting knives which are associated with said conveyor; and

. Figure 8 is a fragmentary, sectional view across the conveyor and expansion joint sheet showing the manner in which the knives and associated arbors are mounted.

i Referring now generally to Figure 1, my invention comprises a mixing vessel l0 provided with an outlet valve 11 of any. desired form. A. predetermined amount of asphalt of each batch of mixture is fed through a pipe 12 provided with' an automatically operated wheel 13, the latter functioning to feed the right amount of asphalt into themixer and then cutting off. A shute 14 leads from the supply of fibrous materialwhich is to be mixed with asphalt to form the raw material for the sheets of expansion joint. A' closure member 15 is connected to an automatic tipping scale 16 so that when a predetermined amount of liber has beeny fed onto the scale 16, the same will tip and throw the said material into the mixer and at the same time closing olf the further supply through the chute 14. y

ll have only indicated the automatically operated means in general and wish it to be understood that any desired automatically proportioning means may be utilized to supply the fibrous material and asphalt to the mixing chamber. y

When the mixture is properly incorporated, the valve 11 may be opened or, if the mixture is made in another portion of the plant, it may be transported by other means, and the mixture'deposited on a belt 17 which runs over a roller 18 and is propelled at desired times by a roller 19, the latter being mounted on an axle 19a which is rigidly connected to the gear wheel .20 at one end (Fig. l) and to the rack wheel 21 at the other end (Fig. The belt 17 is supported in its upper flight by a floor 22 so that a mass 'of heavy material may be supported on said belt 17 and worked thereon. Said floor 22 and rolls 18 and 19 are supported on appropriate framing 23. lliisingy upwardly from said frame and positioned thereon so that the belt 17 moves through the bottom thereof, is a hopper24 comprising side walls 25. best seen in Fig. 3, these side walls are twoply, leaving a hollow space therebetween for purposes .to be hereinafter more fully described.

Fivotally mounted in order to work upwardly and downwardly in said hopper is a presser member 26 which is provided with an arcuately formed apron 27 and provided with depending side walls 28, which latter are adapted on the downward strolre of said .-5

presser member to cut away any material which may adhere to the side walls 25, and thereby insure that all of said material will be acted upon by the apron 27 of the presser.

rFhe entire presser member' 24 swings about the pivot points 29 and is moved thereabout by crank-arms 30 secured to gear wheels 31, the latter being continuously moved in the direct1on of the arrow by operating means which will be more fully 'developedhereinn, after.

Inasmuch as the plastic material which is worked upon 'in my machinevis very adherent latter to a predetermined point. In the par Y ticular case here described-although my inventlon is not, of course, so limited-this apron is heated to about or slightly above the melting point of theasphalt of the mass so that the same does not adhere to thevapron when the same is pressed against the mass.

As shown, these burners 32 are fed from pipes 33 and I further provide a blower 34y for producing the correct pressure and'mixture of the gas so fed." A. further; passage 35 leads ofi' from the main system and conducts gas to the pipes 3636, which are best shown in Fig. 3. These pipes are positioned between the two plies of the side walls 25 so that these.

llatter may also be heated to a correct temperature to preventthamass. from sticking.

to the side walls, and to permit the depending knife-like side walls 28 of/ the presser member to cut their waythrough the mass and 4free it from said side walls 25. Further, to

prevent adherence of themass to any portion of the pressing mechanism I provide the belt 17, as I do all other belts herein mentioned,

with some sort of powder to prevent sticking.'

The rods 30 are provided at either'end--in this case I have'illustrated the upper end#- with adjusting means 37, so that therise and fall of the presser member 27 may be adjusted. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 a plastic mass 38 is placed upon the belt 17 and is moved, by the forward movement of said` belt, in the direction of the arrow, under the pressing apron 27. rl`he belt-17 is then held stationary while the presser member 24 brings the apron 27 down onto the material and squeezes a defined portion of' the mass into a certain thickness. The pressing mem- 'ber then rises and the belt 17 feeds the defined portion of the mass, which has been pressed into flattened and semi-formed condition, forward underneath the lower end of the apron 27 and out onto the plate 39'. I will omit a' description of the manner in which the vari- :ous 1nterm1ttent and contlnuous movements of my machlne are produced and synchro.

nized until after all of the working portions of the machine have been described.

Passing on, therefore, to Fig.` 4 wliifch is an immediately next forward of the pressing means shown in F ig. 2, a belt conveyor 41 passes over rollers 42 and 43 at the ends of the l belt rand is guided in the manner shown by additional rollers 44 and 45, all of said rollers being journalled on a frame member 46 which ispivotally mounted at its lower righthand end at 47. 'llhe material passing out from under the lower'side of the pressing member, that is 'material 40, is intermittently fed over the' plate 39 and onto belt or conveyor 41. f v

The belt 41 is intermittently' moved in synchonized relation with the operation of the pressing member to progress a thick continuous ribbon 4() of the plastic material upwardly along :the conveyor shown in Fig. 4. I will further explain the reason for thi@` v novelprogression at a later point, of the description. At the upper end of the belt 4l the material 40 `is fed downwardly o'ver'two telescoping plates 48 and 49. Plate 49 is secured to a block which in turn is pivotally supported by. member 51, which latter memberis provided at its lower end with a lug portion 52 rigidly secured to a frame por? tion l53 of the machine. rlhis particular con-' struction permits the stationary plate 49 to tilt and remain in close sliding contact with plate 48 during the telescoping ofthe latter Iillustration of that portion of the machine lil() scribe, the plate 48 slides upwardly along plate49 thereby increasing the distance which it is necessary that the thick ribbon 40travel before itcomes adjacent theforming rolls. As

I will hereinafter more fully. describe, such movement compensates for the intermittent feed, and during the downward movement of the conveyor the plates telescope or slide one over the other. While no materialiis being fed on conveyor 41 during the downward ivotal movement of said conveyor, the rlbon 40 is nevertheless continuously 4fed to the sheet forming rolls'thereby producing a desirable continuous pressure of thesheet-like mass 40 towards the forming rolls.

Referring now to Fig. 6,.the\sheet forming mechanism proper comprises companion setsv of twin rollers 57-58 and 59-60, these rollers being mounted on standard\61fand 62 respectively. The rollers proper are journalled vin blocks 63 Aand 64 and 65 and 66, said' sheet which is-formedy by the rolls. The

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blocks 63-64 and 65-66 are urged apart by springs 67 and 68 respectively, and are adjusted through the medium of wheels 69 and 70.

A conveyor belt 71 carries the sheet between said forming rolls and after the formamation thereof said sheet is supported on said belt in its further'travel. rlthe belt 71 is supported by and runs over the bottom rollers 58 and 60 and is further supported on ay roller 72 mounted on the frame member 53. lt-will be observed that said roller is mounted in a block 73 which latter is adapted for adjustment by means of the threaded rod 74, as best seen in Fig. 4. ln its forward limit of movement the belt or conveyor 71 passes over a roller 75 which is journalled in a block 76 mounted on the frame member 77.

' After the formed sheet of material leaves the forward rolls 59 and 60, it passes off of the conveyor 71 onto a conveyor 78 which is power-driven by the sprockets 79 and 80 and the chain 81, it being understood that said conveyqr 78 is quite lengthy but that l have shown 1t broken and shortened to conserve space. b

'lf he sprockets of gears 79 and 8O are mounted on blocks 82 and 83 respectively, which latter are bolted to a frame member 84. A supporting plate 85 may be likewise mounted on the frame 84 in order to support the finished sheet in its travel from the conveyor 71 to the conveyor 78.

At the forward end of the conveyor 7 8 are placed cutting means for dividing the sheet longitudinally into strips of definite width as part of my continuous process. These means are, ll believe, of novel character, and contribute markedly to the success of the expansion joint manufacturing machine above described. 'llhey comprise a plurality of rotatable knives 86 which are mounted on a shaft 87 so that they may be adjusted therealong to provide for cutting strips of material of any desired width. These knives 86 are run at high speed by the shaft 87, the latter being driven by a pulley 88, which pulley is, in turn, driven by the belt 89. A plate 90 supports the sheet of material as it is being longitudinally out, thisplate serving as an accurate spacer for the knives 86.

Positioned above' the sheetof material are a plurality of arbors 91 mounted on a shaft 92, which latter is driven by a gear wheel 93 and chain 94. Said arbors are shrouded as shown to receive the upper portion of the rotatable cutting knives 86 and are adjustable along the aXle 92 commensurately with the knives 86. 'llhe shrouded portion presses against the sheet of material as it is progressed and cut by the knives. Thel rim speed of the arbors 91 is equal to the lineal speed of the progression of the joint. lt is in thisv particular combining of high speed knives shrouded by an arbor operated at the Lseaeee lineal speed of the progression of the sheet being cut that my invention finds its marked advantages over previous cutting mechanisms.

This feature of my invention is of great .advantage in present `day expansion joint ymanufacture because the highway commisrevert to this driving mechanism as a whole 1 and, referring particularly to Figure 1, point out the manner in which the various movements are synchronized with each other to produce continuously a smooth, full sheet of material at the forming rolls while initially pressing and feeding the raw material intermittently.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, the chain driving system comprises a motor 98 which may be mounted overhead as shown on framing 99. 'llhe shaft of this motor is equipped with a double pulley as indicated. Belts 100 and 100" are driven bythe pulleys on the motor 98 in the directions shown by the arrows. From belt 100 motion is transmitted through a variable speed connection,

which l will not describe in detail, through belts 101 and 102 to large pulley 103, which in turn drives companion gears 104 land 105 to progress thebelt or conveyor 71 forwardly of the machine. Belt 100 drives pulley 106 (another variable speed connection) ,belt 107, pulley 108, belt 109, and pulley to transmit the energy of the motor to a gear wheel 111 and the main drive chain 112, said chain 112 being, of course, a constantly running chain.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 2, which is a view taken from the opposite side of the machine from that of Figure 1, it will be seen that chain 112 drives gear wheel 113, inner wheel 114 drives gear 115 whose inner gear 116 in turn drives the presser gear 31 in the direction indicated by the arrow. As before. explained, the gear 31 drives the connecting rod 30 in such manner as to move the presser 24 in its predetermined movements.

Moreover, as ll have-before pointed out, the conveyor belt 17 moves the mass of raw material 38 intermittently, such forward moveree ment of the conveyor-.17 and mass 38 beinga/ made during the time that the presser is rising, and said belt 17 and mass 38 remaining stationary when said presser is descending and pressing or kneading themass.'

- This intermittent-movement of the belt 17 is accomplished. in the following manner. A roller pin 117 is positioned near the periphery v of the gear wheel 31 and is adapted to contact with one arm 118 of a bell crank 119, which latter is pivoted at 120 on the cross-beam 23a of the -frame 23. As the pin 117 moves around and under the arm118 the bell .crank 119 is rocked so that the lower endl of the arm 121 of said bell crank is moved rearwardly to pull the member 122 in the s'ame d irection (toward the right of the sheet). Mount- '1'5 ed on said member 1,22 is a pawl 123 which/is pivoted on a member 124 to engage the teeth of wheel125 during the rearward movement of member 122. A'stoppawl 126 prevents the backward movement of the wheel 125. It will be observed 'that the wheel 125, when turned in the directionof the arrow,rotates a roller 127 upon which the belt 17 is supported.` Therefore, when the pin 117 comes under the arm 118 and, through the members just described, rotates the wheel 125, the lbelt 17 is-moved forwardly until the pin 117 rolls 0H from under the arm l118.` In this manner the continuous motion of the chain 112 is translated into intermittent motion of the mass-supportin conveyor 17. Extending further forwar ly`from the member 122 is a rod 128 pivotallyv connected at its for- -ward end to arm 129, asbest shown in Figure 4, of another bell crank 130 pivoted at 131. The other arm 132 of said crankv 130 is connected to a supporting rod 133, the upper end of which is `pivotally mounted at 134 to support and control the lifting movements of the frame 46. Through the connection'just described, the lift -of the frame 46 and. the accompanying forward movement of the associated conveyor 41- are controlled in accordance with the movement ofthe teeth of wheel -125 which the pawl 123 takes in lany one rearward movement of the rod 122. Referring now more particularly to-Figures 1 and 5 (it being noted that these views are taken from` opposite sides of the machine and that reference to both must be had .fin order to understand clearly the operating means), I -will explain the manner in which the conveyor 41 is raised and lowered at predetermined times andis progressed forwardly during the period it is risin The driving I5 means for the conveyor 41 is urnished by the gear 2O which is intermittently moved by reason of its connectionfto the rack wheel 21 through the axle 19a.

Gears 135 are mounted at both ends of the l0 roller 43 over which the. conveyor 41 passes' at its upper end. Said gears 135 are connected to chains' 136, which chains are inthe direction lshown by the arrow (see 1) v A chain 135a connects gear wheel 42a with gear wheel 1357 which-latter is mounted on the same shaft as wheel 1.35.` When said ear 42a is intermittently moved, by reason o its connection through chain 20a and gear 20, the

chain 135a and wheel 1356 are also moved tor progress the conveyor belt 41. The gears 141 and 142 are journalled on an arm 143which is pivotally mounted at 144 on a frame145, which latter also supports the block in which the gear 137 is ]ournalled.I Said arm 143 is provided with an arcuate member 146, 'so that as said arm swings upwardly and downwardly (see Fig. 5) a cord 147 contacts therewith through a substantial portionof the arc. Said cord 147 passes over a pulley 148, which fatter is secured to a block 149 fastened to a portioncf the frame 99. A weight 150 is fastened to the lower end of thecord 147.

In Figure 5 I have shown the lower position ofthe frame-46 and the conveyor 41 supported thereby/in dotted lines, and all the j.'

driving and supporting means for said con-. veyor in the lower position being likewise shown in dotted form. The full line show-v` l y ing represents the Various elements and the conveyor after thelatter has been raised during the feedv of the defined portions of the kneaded mass of raw ymaterial onto the conveyor 41. l y

Referring 'now tol Figure 5, it vwill be seen that, as the conveyor raises the wheel 135, it'

climbs up, as it were, the chain 136, and because vof this, said chain becomes slack. As

this slack occurs, the weight 150 rotatesthe arml 143 upwardly and thereby 'takes up the slack, as shown in thefull line position of the members inFig'ure 5.. .When on the otherl hand, the conveyoris lowered the slackpays out and permits the wheel 135 to remain stationary and not rotate.

. As before indicated, the intermittent movement of the belt 41 to progress the material forwardly occurs during the upward movement of the'pressing member. This movement of belt 41 is arranged to occur as the conveyor 46 and 41 is raised for reasons here-l i-nafter described. `During this-movement of the vbelt` 41 the wheels 135 climb their chains. C

' Because of the novel and particular com- -sa-me, thereby obtaining a most desirable syn-A 125 bination of elements just described, I aml IIJ chronizing of the movements of my machine.

Having described the various elements comprising my machine, the method of producing an expansion joint therewith is as follows: The automatic opening-and-closing valve 13 admits a fixed amount of asphalt into mixer and concurrently therewith, the automatic scale 16 dumps a predetermined amount of fibrous material into said mixer. After the materials have been thoroughly mixed they are dispose-d on the belt or conveyor 17, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3.

'lhe mass 38 thus disposed on the belt 17 is intermittently moved forward through the interaction of the continuously driven chain 112, the pin 117 and the pawl driven wheel 125. When belt 17 is stopped by the passing of the roller 117 out from under the arm 118, the presser member moves downwardly under the influence of'connecting rods 30, whereupon the apron 27, which has been heated to a predetermined degree, irons out or kneads the mass 38 into desirable form, and in fact defines a portion thereof, the dependingN knife-like sides 28 during this downward i movement cutting the mass away from the side walls 25 of the hopper and thereby preventiiig the sticking thereof.

As the presser member rises, the conveyor 17 moves the mass forwardly again, and passes a portion thereof between the conveyor and the lower right-hand end of the presser member. rlthe portion thus pushed out, or we may say defined, is pushed forwardly onto the pivotally mounted conveyor member 41. Y 'lthe said conveyor 41 intermittently moves the mass of material forwardly toward the top of the pivoted frame 46 at the times and for the reasons hereinbefore described and allows it to fiow downwardly over the telescoping plates 48 and 49 into proximity to the opening between the sheet forming rollers 57 and 58 (see Fig. 6). During this feeding movement from under the presser member, the heretofore described cooperation between the intermittently operated gear 21 and its associated mechanism lifts. the conveyor 41 about its point of pivotal connection 49. During this period of lifting, the belt 41 moves forwardly under the influence of said mechanism to take care properly of the material being` fed thereunto.

When, however, the presser is kneading the Amaterial or working out a defined portion thereof and the hopper conveyor 17 is stationary, no material is fed onto the conveyor 41. lin order, therefore, to maintain an unbroken flow of material to the rear ofthe sheet forming rolls 57 and 58 and insure continuous pressure of said material to said rolls, conveyor 41 as a whole pivots downwardly about the point 47 so that, although no matei rial is fed thereonto,'the thick ribbon 40 in the upper end continues to be fed toward the said forming rolls due to the lowering move- .between the belts 71 and, 71a.

ing between the rolls 59 and 60, the sheet proreeeeaa rolls carry a belt 71a, which assists in forming the sheet as required, and that in reality,

ing a thickness as indicated at 71h is formed After passgresses onwardly to the cutting mechanism, where, as I will hereinafter explain, the formed sheetv is cut into strips of any desired width by the high-speed, cleanly-cutting knives 86.

From the above it will be apparent that my method contemplates working on a most refractory and work-resist-ant plastic material composed as it is of asphalt and intermixed with fibrous material. As -heretofore explained, it is necessary to so act upon this raw material that it may be .intermittently pressed or kneaded and at the same time so fed to forming means that a continuously flowing sheet will be obtained. My method, therefore, contemplates the steps above indicated. e

Furthermore, it will be noted that the production lof expansion joints in accordance with my novel method is substantially automatic from the mixing of predtermined, automatically-controlled quantities of material to the cutting means and that, therefore, the attendance necessary to insure vproper functioning of a machine capable of carrying out my process is reducedto a minimum.

While', therefore, lt have described an ecient and commercially usable machine for practicing my novel method heretofore disclosed, it is to be understood that other machines may be found capable of practicing the same method andlf do not, intend to limit myself to the illustrative description given, nor do t intend to limit the method as being capable of use in connection with plastic material made into expansion joints only. The same problems may arise with other mate- -rials which possess like shortcomings so far therefore, the finished sheet of material havl mass of plastic adherent material into a flat l sheet which comprises intermittently kneadwidely dissimilar and yet equivalent means to obtain the same. general and novel arrangement. I desire, therefore, that my inventio-n be limited only by the scope of the a-ppended claims and theshowing'v of thepriorart. l. I claim: 1

' l. The method of continuously working a ing said mass and then feeding the'same to forming rolls in such sequence as to produce a continuously flowing sheet from said rolls. v

2. The/methdof continuously working a mass of plastic adherent material into a flat sheet which comprises kneading said mass, de-

fining, a portion thereof, and then feeding said defined portion tovafo'rming mechanism so as to produce a continuously flowing sheet from said mechanism.

. kneadin 3.- The method of. continuously working a mass of plastic adherent material .into a flat sheet which. comprises intermittently kneading said-mass, defining a portion of said mass after -each kneading thereof, and .thereupon feeding said deined portions'to forming rolls in such sequence as to produce a continuously Hoping sheet'fro'm said rolls.

4. i he method of continuously working a mass of plastic adherent material into a flat she t which comprises intermittently said mass, dening a portion, `of said mass after each kneading thereon/and thereupon feeding said defined portim to forming rolls insuch sequpnce as to produce a continuously owing sheet from -said rolls.

5. The method of continuously making -a mass of plastic adherent material into a flat sheet which comprises intermittently-alineading said mass, defining portions of said kneaded mass, feeding said denled'portions to forming rolls duri-ng the no -kneadingv v to the rolls.

` verting said'defined ous sheet. y Y 7. In a machine for transforming a plastic Vr terial, a kneading device whereinv said mass eriods, and varyin the effective length of eed from the lmeading point to the forming rolls to transform said intermittently fedv portions into a continuously liowing sheet 6. In a machine for transforming a plastic'- l adherent mass into a sheet of said plastic material, a kneading-device wherein said mass is kneaded, meansfor defining portions-.of said mass after -kneading and means for conportions' into acontinuadherent mass intol a sheet of plastlc mais kneaded, continuously operating sheetforming rolls, and means for intermittently 'feeding them'to. said rolls to defined portions of said kneaded mass'and produce a continuous sheet of material. f 8. In a machine for Itrannsforming Ia plastic adherent mass into a sheet of said\ plastic material, a kneading member adapted to intermittently presssaid mass to prepare it;i 'for further". working, a :feeding-member adapted to periodically-.- define -=port1o1i1sirrof the kneaded mass, sheet forming means, and' conveyor means to transfer said deinedpor tions to said forming-means. 9.- In a machine foi-'transforming -aplastlc adherent mass into a sheet of said plastic-maa` vterial, a kneadin-gmember adapted to inter mittently 'press-said massl to prepare it-.for furtherworking, a' feeding member adapted 'to periodically 'feed delined-portions of the kneaded mass, .sheet forming fmeans, e con? Veyor means to transfer -saldrintermittently defined ortions, to r said' formingmeansgrand means or adjusting said: conveyor'tofcoms pensate for the intermittent p'lacementrof` said portions on said conveyor and produce a smooth continuously ,flowing :sheet at said forming means.- f

10. In a. machine lflor transforming fa plasL .tic adherent mass into a sheet of'said plastic material, a kneading member adapted to. inf.

termittently press said .mass to "prepare itfor further working,-: arfeeding member adapted t periodically define portions oftllelineadeed mass, sheet forming means, yconveyor means to transfcrssai'd"inteimittentlfyidelined ,portions tosaid'; forming means ifand' .means for adjusting said -1 conveyor.. .tok 'colmi pensate for the yintermittentplacement go'f -said portions. on said conveyor: and produce a smooth; continuously.- lowing'.' sheet ati-:said

forming means, said` last means comprising, a device for lifting said f :onveyorzfalsiv theI iniy termittently delined portions 'are fedi ,iillgrta-v iff" under sai pressingmembert 12. In a machine;forl transfm-inga'plaslff tic adherent masszintoiasheet'vof' saidsplasti-c materiaL knead-ing means 'fon Said, I liaSS .come prisin a feed1ngr...belt=onfwhich: said massue initial y positioned, a pressing member; heatli ing means associated: with 1saidpresserct) melt said plastic andtprevent thesame from sticking, and -meansf-synchronizing fthfe `belt Y and pressing .member-to; causecsaidfbeltto feed said massvwforward, said membenstheh pressingdownwabdlfy?tofskneadgxsaidfmass 1 and said beltnallyfagain feedingisaidmass v forward under` said pressing member 'ya 13. In a machine 'for trans-formmgia plairtic adherent massfinto-asheet.. ofsaid plastic material, kneadingmeans"for!A saidsmass comprising a feeding l'belts-on ywhich..'sairl'i'missfis initially positioned, apressingmelhr e r reeaeee means synchronizing the belt| and pressing member to cause said belt to feed said mass forward, said member then pressing downwardly to knead said mass, and said belt 5 finally again feeding said mass forward under said pressing member, said member during its pressing movement Hattening and dening a portion of said mass against said belt, and said belt in its forward movement l@ feeding said portion-'forwardly from under said presser at the same time an unpressed portion of said mass is moved in under said presser.

14. ln a machine for transforming a plas- 15 tic adherent mass into a sheet of said plastic material, kneading means for said mass comprising a feeding belt on which said mass is initially positioned, a pressing member, and means synchronizing the belt and pressing 2e member to cause said belt to feed said mass forward, said member then pressing downwardly to knead said mass, and said belt finally again feeding said mass forward under said pressing member, said belt remain- 25 ing stationary during the presser movements of said member and moving forwardly while said presser is rising for its next lmeading stroke. l y

15. ln a machine for transforming a plasV 3@ tic adherent mass into a sheet of said plastic material, kneading means for said mass comprising a feeding belt on which said mass is initially positioned, a pressing member, and means synchronizing the belt and pressing 35 member to cause said belt to feed said mass 'l forward, said member then pressing downwardly to knead said mass, and said belt finally again feeding said mass forward under said pressing member, forming rolls, a

. e() conveyor adapted to receive the portions fed from under said presser, means for moving said conveyor forwardly during the nonprcssing movements of said presser member and for raising said conveyor to compensate 45 for the variation between intermediate feeding of material thereunto and continuous withdrawal of said material therefrom.

lin witness whereof, l have hereunto subscribed my name. '5G ARTHUR lEl. BRUWN.

` CERTIFICATE on connection..

Patent N0. eczeem. l ommen october is, 193i, of

Anwen E. nnowne l it is inereby'certiiied that error appears in the printed speciiiontion ci thel aboveA numbered patent requiring correction as f0liows:' Page 6, Eine 101, ion".

the misspeliedword "piedterminea read predeteffmined; page i, Eine S9, claim 7, for "defined" read defining; and that tile said Letten, Patent shouid be read with these corrections theaein that the. same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

- Signed and seaied this l5th`day ci December,` A. D. i931.

M. J. Moore( (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

